Subject- Political History Of Maurya Dynasty

Submitted To- Prof. Ranbir Chakravarti

Submitted By- Jitendra Raj

Topic- It is possible to justify Asokan Claims that his realm was vast? On what
ground does Romila Thapar Considered that the Maurya realm has three territorial
Compound?

Chandragupta Maurya was the ruler who laid the foundation of the Mauryan
empire. He defeated the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty. According to the
tradition Chandragupta was supported by his minister to defeat the Nanda
ruler. Chandragupta fought a battle with Selecus Nicator, the successor of
Alexander in the part of west Asia. A treaty was also signed between two
ruler. There are lots of source were available to study this period like Indika
by the Megasthenes and Arthasastra written by Kautilya. Inscription of
Asoka which are the first lithic record in the Indian history. Punch marked
coin were also used source to study this period.Asoka came in power around
(c.272-233BCE). Asoka was the third most famous ruler of this dynasty. The
coronation took place in 269BCE because he face lots of struggle from other
princes when he came in power. Many sources says that he kill his many
brother to get the throne but there are lots of confusion among the historian
about this statement. Asoka generally described himself as Devanampiya.
The name Asoka name is comes in only in four inscription Maski and
Junagadh inscription of Mahakshatrapa RudradamanI. When Asoka came in
power he follow the policy of expansion and make many friendly cooperation
with the foreign power. During the first eight year of his reign we find that
like other ruler Asoka like his grandfather the mighty conqueror and great
administrator Candragupta and may be like his powerful father he was busy
with problem of administration. When we study his sources so we know that
his empire stretched Afghanistan in North and Karnataka in South Kathiwad
in the west. All these region were comes under his empire. His empire was
known by two term Vijita(conquered) and Avijita(Unconquered). The area
which were located outside his empire was known as Avijita. In these area
Chola and Chera, Pandaya were ruling. Whereas Vijita areas are those area
which are conquered by the King Asoka. Asoka territory was divided into
three part metropolitan, this area was the centre of power all major decision
were taken from here and applied throughout the empire, core area this
area basically cover the part of Ganga valley this region is highly fertile and
most of agricultural need were complited from this region. The area which
touched the border line of Mauryan dynasty were known as the peripheral
region. Afghanistan and Kathiwad were comes under the peripheral region.
These area were in the borderline of Mauryan dynasty. These three region
contain various social and ethnic and social group. These area were also
contain lots of mineral resources. So these region has lots of important for
Mauryan dynasty. Asoka know it very well that he was ruler of very vast
empire which contain large area in it that’s why he was always aware that
his wrong decision lots of people of his empire. So he always take decision
with very carefully.
In the thirteenth year of his reign he fought the battle with Kalinga. We don’t
know the exact cause for this battle but many sources refer that he fought
this battle because he want to expand his empire in this region. In the 13th
Major Rock edict he says that he made war on Kalinga because he want to
merge this territory in his realm. There are large area which comes under
the Asokan empire the Kalhana Rajatarangini says that Asoka conquered
whole of the earth. In many inscription Asoka says that Magadha,
Pataliputra, Khalatikapavata, Kosambi, Lummin-gama, Kalinga Suvranagiri
these area were comes under by his rule. There are lots of evidence which
says that Asoka included Himalaya region in his empire. Like in Rock edict
13th there is reference of Nabhapamtis of Nabhaka probably identical with
the Na-pei-kea Of Fa hien the Birthplace of Buddha. So by this we can make
an idea that this region might comes under his ruler. Many writer refer that
the Bengal region also come under his rule like there is name of Gangaridae,
which might be Bengal refer by these writer. In many sources there are lots
of evidence about the conquering the southern part. The major part of
Deccan was ruled by the princes of Suvaranagiri and the Tosali. The region
which comes under the Asokan empire has different-different purpose. For
example the Gandhara region has very important for its commercial purpose
and whereas the Kallinga region is very important for its natural resources.
There are lots of Gold mine were found in this place that’s why many
historian says that Kalinga war took place due to its importance of Gold and
silver.Asoka appointed there Viceroy in the provincial region. These viceroy
are basically comes from the royal blood. These viceroy were very closed
relation with the king. We know from the 6th pillar edict that Asoka began to
issue his major edict in his thirteenth regional year these edict were found
whole of subcontinent and gives lots of information about the Asoka period.
These edict provide lots of valuable information of like the Asoka conversion
of Buddhism and great war took place between the Kalinga and Maurya
dynasty and these edict also tells about his new religious which is applied by
the Asoka throughout the empire. After conquering the Kalinga region his
empire expand throughout the whole of India with the exception of the
extreme south peninsula but after some he was able to conquer this region.
When we study the edict of Asoka we know that they were very special for
study of this period. In this edict king make direct conversation with his
subject. All these edict were distributed in the very special pattern like the
Rock edict were located on the bordering sites of his empire whereas Pillar
edict were found in the region of Ganga valley. But in case of Minor edict
these were distributed all over the realm. So this we can make an idea that
his empire is covering large area. Asoka himself mention in the Rock edict
14th that his realm was so vast. So he introduce the edict by these edict he
want to convey his message to the subject. There are lots of stupa were
found all over the subcontinent these contain lots of information in it. Many
Buddhist text refer that Asoka was great empire and his realm was so vast.
We know that Maurya empire control extensive territory. But the problem is
that within this extensive territory the people of this empire economically
and political, culturally different. The design of Mauryan dynasty is like as
some area were under direct control of King. Whereas other areas were
under indirect control of King or he appointed someone to watch these area.
According to the Prof. Romila Thapar she argues that there is uniformity in
state throughout the Mauryan empire. We cannot say that Mauryan empire
is the centralized or the decentralized state.The nucleus of empire was
Magadha which is described as the metropolitan city of the state (R.Thapar).
Like Prof. Romila Thapar says that Mauryan territory was divided into three
Parts. Magdha area comes under the metropolitan area these area were very
famous for their trade like activity. Whereas the center of power is located in
the metroplitan area. These area were highly politicized many important
decision were taken from here.When we see the history of metropolitan area
then we found there is an evolution in these state. There were small
kingdom during their early period and slowly became the center of power.
The area which are away from the center were known as core areas these
area have very distinct feature. These area were economically well
developed. Most of Asoka edict were found in this area. When we look the
area which are situated in the border of empire. The society in these core
area were mixed. In these area there are different-different type of
inscription were found. When the empire strated declining these area can be
developing in the Metropolitan area because these area have very distinct
feature. The Peripheral area are those area which donot have known state
system it means they donot have any functioning authority.These area were
known as periphery. In these region empire doesn’t have strong control.
These area have hunting and gathering producing societies. In these area
there non-monarchical form government is ruling in these region. These area
have very diverse subsistence and production system like some people get
there food with the hunting and gathering and by other activity. These area
were important for the raw material and semi- precious stone, elephant,
timber. When we see all these territory we find that these areas have great
uniformity at the upper level of administration whereas local form of
government is more decentralized. In these area Magadha have all power
who collect all type of taxes from other two area. There are many reason
why Magadha has emerge as the metropolitian city because this area is
located near by Gangetic fertile. So these thing make this area agiculuturally
very rich. This area also controlled whole of trade which is going through the
Gangetic river. When we se the historu of this city we find that this area is
ruled by many great ruler like the Ajatsatru that’s why this area developed
as metropolitan city. According Prof. Thapar who says revenue of these
region were collected by the Samharta. So by this we can say that the high
rank officer might came from these region. But the people who collected the
tax at village might be appointed by local governing body.